3XN Designs Residential Complex for Downtown Vienna

International design firm 3XN has recently won a competition to design a residential building in downtown Vienna, Austria. Being so close to the historic center of the city, the project required a unique but unobtrusive appearance. With this in mind, a subtle, curving façade composed of warm colors was developed for the exterior.

As project architect Jan Ammundsen puts it, “We have created a building that in terms of its volume, materiality and color scheme elements fit into the historic surroundings but through an expressive design with its curved façade the building has its own identity and creates an urban space for city life.” The concave exterior frames an intimate public plaza that provides visual relief from the dense city blocks of Vienna. This plaza also acts as the entrance to the building.

The curvature of the building allows for the apartments within to be brightly lit, many of them being exposed to daylight from two sides. The first floor of the building is given over to public spaces such as a gym, a wine cellar, and community gardens.